The BBC Doctor Who Twitter account has confirmed that Richard E. Grant will star in the 2012 Doctor Who Christmas Special, which begins filming this week.

Richard has previously appeared in the Doctor WhoComic Relief sketch 'The Curse of Fatal Death' as well as the BBCi Doctor Who Webcast of 'Scream of the Shalka', in which he plays a separate and earlier character from the canonical Ninth Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston on television).

The actor, author and director, has starred in over 80 film and television hits including Withnail And I, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jack & Sarah, Gosford Park and The Iron Lady.

On joining the show, Richard says: "I played Doctor Who in the digital animated Scream Of The Shalka and I'm honoured to be in the Christmas Special."

It is rumoured that Richard will play the villain in the Christmas Special.